Memorializing Blind Roosevelt Graves
Since the pandemic derailed our original campaign, the Mt. Zion Memorial Fund has renewed its campaign to mark the grave of Roosevelt Graves in Gulfport, MS
Blog
State-Sponsored Erasure of Historic Sites in Virginia
In this republished ProPublica article, Seth Freed Wessler explains that, despite layers of federal and state regulations nominally intended to protect culturally significant sites, the expansion of a Microsoft data center inspired authorities in Virginia to desecrate a historic cemetery.
White Supremacy & Historic Preservation
Shannon Evans details the similarities between plantation tourism and blues tourism, both of which employ similar mechanisms of erasure, nostalgia, and mythology. By relying on romanticized narratives that align with the expectations of white tourists, both blues and plantation tourism are detached from the historical realities of the African American experience.
Preserving the Legacy of John Hurt
Shannon Evans has worked closely with Mary Frances Hurt of the Mississippi John Hurt Blues Foundation to help preserve St. James Missionary Baptist Church in Teoc, Mississippi. This blog post details her work over the past year.
Just a Few Lines
Tavon worked with the MZMF to build the WebAtlas of African American Burial Grounds, and this blog post introduces our supporters to a fine young man who played an important role in the AHA grant.
Closing the AHA Grant
Corey Crowder details the work of the MZMF to close the American Historical Association grant in June 2023.
Always Loved the Blues
The Mt. Zion Memorial Fund hired public historian Milo Reed to prepare the NRHP nomination for Alonzo Chatmon’s Juke Joint in Glen Allan, and this blog post reveals the reasons why he was the perfect choice for the project!
Building Connections
Corey Crowder reveals more about the inner workings, hopes, and dreams of the MZMF in 2023.